Friday, 23 January 2026 | Dubai, UAE [Posted at 11:37 pm]
Australia has made global headlines after enforcing the world’s strictest child social media ban, leading to the closure of 4.7 million underage accounts across major platforms. The Australia child social media ban is closely watched by governments worldwide, including the UAE, marking a turning point in how countries approach children’s online safety.
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What Is The Australia Child Social Media Ban
Overview: Australia has legally barred children under 16 from holding social media accounts
Since December, children under 16 in Australia are legally barred from holding social media accounts. This includes new registrations and existing profiles, which have now been deactivated.
The following major platforms are covered under the ban:
- Snapchat
- Threads
- TikTok
- X (formerly Twitter)
- YouTube
- Kick
- Twitch
Excluded platforms:
- YouTube Kids
- Google Classroom
Children can still view content without logging in, but they cannot interact or post.
Why Did Australia Ban Social Media for Children?
Overview: The ban was driven by alarming evidence linking social media use to mental health harm among children.
A government-commissioned study found the following data behind Australia child social media ban:
- 96% of children aged 10–15 used social media
- 70% had encountered harmful content
- 1 in 7 experienced grooming-type behaviour
- Over 50% reported cyberbullying
The government said platform designs encourage excessive screen time and expose children to violent, misogynistic, and self-harm-related content.
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4.7 Million Accounts Closed: How the Ban Is Enforced
Overview: Enforcement targets tech companies, not families, with strict financial penalties for non-compliance.
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner confirmed that 4.7 million child accounts have been closed, calling the rollout a major success.
Enforcement measures include:
- Mandatory age-verification systems
- Government ID checks
- Video selfies
- Facial or voice recognition
- Behaviour-based age inference
Platforms cannot rely on self-declared age or parental approval. Non-compliance will lead to penalties or fines of up to A$49.5 million for serious or repeated breaches.
How Social Media Companies Responded
Overview: Tech giants have pushed back, warning of privacy risks and unintended consequences.
- Meta shut down over 550,000 accounts early and urged app-store-level verification.
- Snapchat is under regulatory review for enforcement gaps.
- Reddit has challenged the law in Australia’s High Court.
- YouTube argued the ban removes built-in safety controls.
Regulators say companies fear the policy could inspire similar laws globally.
Criticism, Privacy Risks, and Loopholes
Overview: While impactful, the ban has raised questions about data protection and long-term effectiveness.
Critics have pointed out the following things:
- Facial age checks are least reliable for teenagers
- Large-scale data collection raises breach concerns
- Some teens are still using fake birthdays, VPNs, and shared family accounts.
The government insists all verification data must be used only for age checks and then destroyed.
Why The Australia Child Social Media Ban Matters for the UAE and Beyond?
Overview: Australia’s move could shape future digital safety laws worldwide.
Countries including the UK, France, Denmark, Norway, Spain, and parts of India are now considering similar restrictions. For the UAE, the Australia Child Social Media Ban offers a real-world test case on balancing child safety, privacy, and digital access.
FAQs
1. How many accounts were closed under the ban?
Around 4.7 million underage accounts.
2. Are parents punished if children break the rules?
No. Only platforms face penalties.
3. Can children still watch social media content?
Yes, without logging in to watch posts. However, they cannot interact with them.
4. Is this the strictest social media law globally?
Yes. Australia allows no parental exemptions.
Conclusion
The Australia child social media ban has reshaped the global conversation on online safety. With 4.7 million accounts closed, the policy has shown early impact while exposing challenges around enforcement, privacy, and compliance.
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